The federal government has officially modified the legal proceedings against the former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, and his son, Abdulaziz. In a notable shift, the authorities have opted to drop the controversial allegations related to terrorism financing, which had previously dominated the headlines surrounding the case.
Earlier this year, the former AGF faced serious accusations of “knowingly” abetting the financing of terrorism. The prosecution had claimed he refused to act on case files involving suspected financiers that were brought to his attention during his time in office. However, during a court session on Wednesday, the legal landscape changed. Malami’s lawyer, Adedayo Adedeji, informed reporters that the newly amended charge has completely expunged those terrorism-related claims, narrowing the focus of the trial significantly.
The prosecution is now centering its case on the illegal possession of firearms. Counsel for the Department of State Services (DSS), Akinlolu Kehinde, formally presented these revised charges, which allege that arms and live ammunition were discovered at Malami’s private residence in Birnin Kebbi.
When the new charges were read in court, both Malami and his son entered a plea of not guilty. Their lead counsel, Shaibu Aruwa, acknowledged receipt of the amended documents and consented to the formal reading. Following the pleas, the presiding judge, Joyce Abdulmalik, ruled that the defendants could remain out on the bail terms originally established back in February.
This legal battle adds another layer to the former minister’s ongoing challenges. Readers on Zoyols News may recall that just this past January, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) leveled separate money laundering accusations against Malami, his wife, and his son, involving a staggering 8.7 billion naira. With the terrorism charges now out of the way, the court has scheduled May 26 and June 15 for the commencement of the trial regarding the firearms allegations.
